Picking the top cross-country teams in the state before the season begins is never easy. A lot can happen over the course of three months. Athletes can experience breakthrough seasons, newcomers can emerge as key contributors, and, of course, injuries to important runners can quickly change the outlook for a team.
But we’ll do our best to set the stage for what we expect will be another exciting season on the trails. For some of the state’s top teams, the outlook appears fairly straightforward if everything goes according to plan. For others, however, the picture is far less clear, and where they’ll ultimately finish by season’s end remains anyone’s guess.
Beginning with No. 10 and counting down to No. 1, here’s our preseason ranking of the top 10 boys’ teams in the state. As always, if we’ve given your team a little bulletin-board material based on our rankings, you’re welcome. It certainly won’t be the first time.
(Above photo by Sterling Vernon @rhodeandtrack)
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No. 9, Chariho Regional
Last year’s results: Second (7-1), Southern Division; Fifth, RIIL Class B Championships; Seventh, RIIL State Championships
Key returnees: Leo Haxton, Junior, 17:18.48; Cameron, Coggeshell, Junior, 17:32.57; Nathan Way, Senior, 18:02.64; Luke Baxter, Junior, 18:11.85; Caeden Lott, Senior, 18:11.94; Greyson Moffitt, Senior, 18:21.90
Outlook: Based on returning times alone, Chariho’s top runner ranks around 40th in the state. But here’s the thing about the Chargers: they’re a close-knit group, with just over a minute separating their top six runners.
Team mentality is what it’s all about in cross country, and the Chargers certainly have that working in their favor. Last year, Chariho finished seventh at the state championships with just a 49-second gap between its top five runners, the third-smallest spread among all teams at the meet.
The Chargers lost two key runners to graduation – Ben Steere and Isaac Graham, their No. 1 and No. 3 runners, respectively. This year’s squad will be led by Haxton and Coggeshell, who both broke 18 minutes last fall. The next four are all low-to-mid-18-minute runners, giving Chariho the kind of depth that can make it dangerous in a championship setting.
We’re putting the Chargers at No. 9, but don’t be surprised if they move higher by season’s end.
